Northwood Manufacturing and ORV has shared the sad news about the passing of their Founder, Ron Nash, on August 17th, 2019. Here is the announcement.
La Grande, Oregon-based RV manufacturers, Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV (ORV), have announced that their founder and RV veteran, Ron Nash, passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning, August 17th.
Mr. Nash along with his wife, Sherry, started Northwood Manufacturing spawning the iconic RV brands Arctic Fox and Nash among others.
Nash then began Outdoors RV Manufacturing in 2009, growing it into a major player in the Western United States and Canada RV markets as well.
Ron broke away from the mainstream RV community and started Northwood Manufacturing in 1993. Due to his strong vision and passion for the RV lifestyle and the people involved in it, Northwood products quickly became known for their high-quality components and construction.
Nash insisted on quality first in a thoughtful, attractive package stating early that his RVs were and always would be, “the pretty one(s) in work boots.”
In 2010, amidst ongoing health issues, Ron turned over day-to-day management of both companies to his long-time management team but always maintained an active interest in their growth.
Craig Orton, CEO of Northwood Investments (parent company of both Northwood Mfg and ORV) stated, “It is impossible to put into words how Ron and Sherry have impacted our local Grande Ronde Valley community economically and culturally not to mention the RV industry as a whole. We will all miss him greatly but his legacy will live on.”
Northwood Investments CFO Cerise Smallwood went on to say, “We at Northwood and ORV are a family – Ron and Sherry’s family. We are committed to continue producing the highest quality, most rugged RVs in the marketplace. It was what Ron wanted and what Sherry continues to want. In this way, we will forever sustain his vision and his memory.”
The funeral is to be held on Friday, August 23rd at 10 am at:
The Lighthouse Church
10501 West 1st Street
Island City, OR – 97850
The family asks that any condolence offerings be addressed to:
Loveland Funeral Chapel
1508 4th Street
La Grande, Oregon – 97850
541-963-5022
